tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92684752012-02-02T04:22:28.404-06:00Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.comBlogger13381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-66067915063916044902009-09-26T21:23:00.000-05:002009-09-26T21:24:54.144-05:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-76400366870778767582009-08-03T09:34:00.000-05:002009-08-03T09:36:08.323-05:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-30320560357759292282009-01-16T13:42:00.001-06:002009-01-16T13:42:54.498-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-65579454475919853242008-11-07T09:37:00.000-06:002008-11-07T09:38:40.725-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com107tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-84325197878417883682008-11-03T08:36:00.002-06:002008-11-03T08:38:48.720-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-87978134206244386862008-04-15T00:19:00.001-05:002008-04-15T00:22:29.798-05:00

Assemblyman Jay Webber is proposing legislation that would lower the cost of health insurance in New Jersey and reduce the number of uninsured without requiring a subsidy from taxpayers.We’ve supported similar ideas in the past and suggest our lawmakers in Trenton give serious consideration to Webber’s New Jersey Health-care Choice Act. It’s a model for health-care reform that we desperately need

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-4695524498088497552008-04-14T09:48:00.000-05:002008-04-14T09:50:36.365-05:00

Has anyone else noticed a pattern of “progressive” Democrats venting their frustrations on small-town people?Gov. Jon Corzine has targeted small towns with a grossly unfair school aid funding formula and the reduction or total elimination of municipal aid. Corzine claims the state of New Jersey just can’t afford small towns any more.Presidential candidate Barack Obama tells his San Francisco

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-86200525421202510982008-02-27T11:00:00.033-06:002008-03-07T09:19:43.450-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed 2009 New Jersey state budget calls for cuts to municipal property tax relief based on population.Municipalities with populations of less than 5,000 would receive no municipal property tax relief from the state. Those with populations greater than 5,000 but less than 10,000 would have municipal aid cut in half. The remaining municipalities with populations greater

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-72857592396597548572008-02-26T15:14:00.004-06:002008-03-02T11:15:46.265-06:00

The text of Governor Jon Corzine’s budget address may be read here and a summary of his proposed New Jersey state budget for 2009 may be reviewed here.The following is a comparison of Governor Corzine’s 2008 vs. 2009 state budget by revenue source and expenditure by budget area.Data Source: New Jersey Department of the Treasury – Office of Management and Budget2008 New Jersey State Budget2009 New

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-2178628544858212822008-02-15T00:43:00.024-06:002008-02-16T13:25:55.313-06:00

In our previous post we provided a high-level overview of the spending side of New Jersey’s state budget. Today, we’ll take a look at the revenue side and again compare the changes from 1998 to 2008This year, the state’s income tax will generate $12.4 billion - more than all other state taxes, fees and revenue sources combined, with the exception of the state’s sales tax. The sales tax will bring

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-11190981678765746142008-02-07T13:17:00.000-06:002008-02-07T15:34:11.757-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine has been conducting town hall meetings across the state to educate New Jersey residents about the state’s financial crisis and his $38 billion asset monetization plan. He uses graphs and charts in his Power Point presentation to explain his side of the story and to convince people that the creation of a Public Benefit Corporation and hefty toll road increases are the answers

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-76998527744563877412008-01-29T12:51:00.000-06:002008-01-29T13:02:11.344-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine has pledged not to spend more next year than in 2008 if his “financial restructuring plan” is approved. With all the hullabaloo about the toll road increases, we must have missed the coverage about the nearly $1 billion tax cut we’ll be getting next year.Below are the state’s revenue projections for this year and for 2009 from New Jersey’s 2008 budget. As you can see, the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-24771024905753233492008-01-23T14:49:00.000-06:002008-01-23T14:55:32.690-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-84703557351306947612008-01-22T11:39:00.000-06:002008-01-22T15:40:23.025-06:00

What’s the real purpose of Governor Jon Corzine’s $38 billion asset monetization plan? It’s all about paying for New Jersey’s public employee benefits. The conversation about the state’s bond debt and Transpiration Trust Fund is misdirection and cover for the real problem The funding requirements for both are basically flat, as we previously explained. It’s the staggering increases for public

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-22326145411154043252008-01-18T14:51:00.000-06:002008-01-18T15:00:14.177-06:00

Why is Governor Jon Corzine proposing a $38 billion asset monetization plan that will require large toll increases on the NJ Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway?The Governor says he needs the money to pay down the state’s debt to a more manageable level and to provide additional funding for the state’s Transportation Trust Fund Authority (TTFA).In our last post, we

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-12815748057730685342008-01-16T09:48:00.000-06:002008-01-16T10:51:38.215-06:00

As of June 2007, New Jersey’s debt was $29,719,322,000. As you can see from the state’s payment schedule shown below, the required annual payment is fairly consistent - $2,570,837,000 in 2007 and by 2013, it’ll be $2,524,619,000.That’s not to say New Jersey’s debt isn’t much higher than it should be. Take a look at the state’s credit card statement as of June 2007. (Click on the graphic to the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-7541369587628007022008-01-09T22:46:00.000-06:002008-01-09T23:21:58.297-06:00

Without the support of a small group of Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly, Governor Jon Corzine’s school spending and state aid bill would have failed. These senators and assemblymen have much to answer for having betrayed the public school students and taxpayers of New Jersey, their constituents and the Republican Party.A tally of 41 yes votes was needed for the governor's measure to

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-50606575311118292682008-01-08T22:52:00.000-06:002008-01-08T22:55:56.415-06:00

We have studied the numbers and we agree with Jon Corzine. There's little choice but to either raise taxes (which we oppose) or leverage state assets in some way similar to what he has proposed. Even with major spending cuts (which should occur regardless of what happens), the people of New Jersey are still in too deep.In our view, Republicans are going about this all wrong – trying to stop

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-59066257246942623752008-01-08T12:36:00.000-06:002008-01-09T23:30:13.396-06:00

New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority approved $11.5 million in corporate or personal income tax cuts for filmmakers and stars including Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis and Anjelica Huston.The saga of a recovering sex addict and a film about a serial-killer piano tuner are among 11 movies that were approved for tax breaks today to encourage filming in New Jersey.Well, at least your hard-earned

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-69077592117153154522008-01-06T20:24:00.000-06:002008-01-06T20:52:17.897-06:00

The New Jersey Department of Education has posted the school spending and state aid details for each district based upon Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed plan.Corzine’s plan is complex, but there are a few key figures in the State Aid Profile you should review to understand what the plan will mean for your school district and your property taxes. After reviewing the numbers, you can contact your

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-307123344650719992008-01-06T19:15:00.000-06:002008-01-06T20:53:20.220-06:00

You can now view your school district’s State Aid Profile based on Governor Jon Corzine’s school spending and state aid program.To help you understand Corzine’s plan and the State Aid Profile, we’ve created this post to guide you along using the Livingston school district as an example. Livingston is represented by Senator Dick Codey, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Assemblyman John McKeon.First, an

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-70174179769135281592008-01-03T23:38:00.000-06:002008-01-03T23:41:05.578-06:00

Here’s a great example of what’s wrong with New Jersey,The idea:Politicians in New Jersey and every state should wake up to this opportunity to fill their state treasuries. A system should be devised whereby all gift cards and certificates issued by chain stores, individual stores, shops and restaurants in a state must be consecutively numbered and accounted for. A state should be able to claim a

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-21945264950715774282008-01-03T12:20:00.000-06:002008-01-03T14:55:23.189-06:00

Governor Corzine has proposed a $711,836,000 adequate school budget for the Newark school district and $707,109,000 in state aid. That represents a 2 percent increase in state aid over last year.Based upon Newark’s student enrollment of 44,720 students, Corzine’s spending and state aid per student is as follows:Corzine’s Proposal – Newark DistrictAdequate budget per student: $15,918State aid per

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-69246610621266356702008-01-01T00:03:00.000-06:002008-01-01T00:04:11.939-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-79241983072634240262007-12-29T15:49:00.000-06:002007-12-29T16:30:19.041-06:00

Governor Corzine’s new school spending plan is based on the assumption that education recourses should be tied to a student’s relative economic status as well as the school district’s that he or she attends. His proposal establishes adequate spending for a thorough and efficient education at 47 percent more for an “economically disadvantaged student” and depending upon the school district

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-78859986346871947162007-12-28T13:38:00.000-06:002007-12-28T13:45:35.094-06:00

The Star-Ledger wrote in an editorial, School funding plan shows promise:Whether a child goes to school in Perth Amboy or Mountain Lakes makes no difference.The premise is that money should follow the child. It's hard to argue with that.It just doesn’t happen to be true. State aid does not “follow the child” under Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed plan. Spending and state aid are totally dependent

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-55304888150923428282007-12-27T15:59:00.000-06:002007-12-28T11:00:09.753-06:00

In this post we’ll review one of the basic components of Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed state aid formula for New Jersey’s public schools – the “local fair share” formula. We’ll also explain why it’s unfair and should be rejected by our lawmakers in Trenton..The proposed aid formula begins by calculating each school district’s adequate budget and “local fair share” contribution.A district’s

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-52609165292184412972007-12-26T15:00:00.000-06:002007-12-26T21:47:37.893-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine’s adequate school spending and state aid plan is built on several key assumptions. If any of these assumptions are incorrect the entire Formula for Success should be scrapped . Many key assumptions are seriously flawed and Corzine’s proposal should be rejected.Taking first things first. The most basic plan assumption is the base per pupil amount of $9,649. This is the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-24249836568885790102007-12-26T10:32:00.000-06:002007-12-28T00:47:11.064-06:00

The following is the proposed “simplified” formula for calculating adequate spending for New Jersey’s public schools. (We will refer to this information in subsequent posts)Adequate Regular Education Student CostThe cost per regular education student (RESC) is calculated as followsRESC = base per pupil amount x grade weightThe base per pupil amount (BPA) is established by the New Jersey

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-40116691658005478292007-12-25T09:37:00.000-06:002007-12-25T09:38:58.713-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-40906389786299289392007-12-22T12:51:00.000-06:002007-12-25T22:18:19.829-06:00

New Jersey’s employment increased by 65,800 in 2007, a 1.6 percent increase over last year.Government continues to be the fastest growing employment sector in the state, with 32 percent of new jobs created by state and local governments during 2007.Total private sector employment increased by 45,100, state and local government employment grew by 20,800, while federal government employment in the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-44416894715272091782007-12-21T15:34:00.000-06:002007-12-21T15:37:09.169-06:00

We keep waiting for sensible lawmakers to expose Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed school spending and state aid plan for what it is - absurd and unfair. How else would an objective person describe a plan that proposes greater state aid per student for some districts than it proposes for others to spend per student? For example, Corzine’s plan has established that Glen Rock in Bergen County should

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-40728947085643042622007-12-20T15:01:00.000-06:002007-12-20T15:27:32.711-06:00

Yesterday brought great news – as of next month, the children’s health insurance crisis in New Jersey will be officially over. All uninsured children, regardless of family income, will have access to “quality, affordable healthcare insurance”. The beauty of the state’s new plan is that a federal expansion of SCHIP was not required nor was additional funding from taxpayers necessary.Starting in

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-80838578601037990192007-12-19T13:41:00.000-06:002007-12-19T13:44:51.845-06:00

This seems like big news that’s receiving remarkably low-key media coverage. Governor Jon Corzine has unveiled a major expansion of NJ FamilyCare, the state’s name for Medicaid/SCHIP. Beginning next month, all uninsured children, regardless of family income, will be eligible for Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield heath insurance coverage.After all the weeping and wailing by Democrats, it turns out an

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-51631206982973533732007-12-17T12:40:00.000-06:002007-12-21T13:59:47.684-06:00

Let’s cut through the hype about Governor Jon Corzine’s school spending and aid proposal for 2008 and look at a few facts.Newark, with an enrollment of 44,173 students, will receive $109.8 million more in aid than Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset Counties combined, with an enrollment of 293,875 students.Union City, with a student population of 9,759, will receive $25.6 million more in

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-59032510755704558262007-12-16T23:10:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:00:50.238-06:00

As Governor Jon Corzine looks to extended full-day pre-kindergarten beyond the 31 Abbott school districts, one big question comes to mind. How much is it going to cost?The answer is about $18,586 for each three-to four-year old enrolled. According to a December 2007 report, The Cost of High-Quality Pre-School Education In New Jersey, it cost state taxpayers $723 million for 38,900 Abbott district

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-42837098116463933582007-12-14T14:27:00.000-06:002007-12-14T14:29:13.766-06:00

Our lawmakers in Trenton have seen fit to abolish the death penalty for those guilty of the most heinous crimes, but have no qualms about taxing innocent citizens to death.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-80993610752756236122007-12-14T11:38:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:01:18.454-06:00

The Union City school distinct will receive a huge $20.2 million increase in state aid under Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed school spending and aid plan. State aid for the district’s k-12 students will grow by 16 percent, to $15,485 per pupil, next year.The additional aid cranked out by Corzine’s new formula amounts to a $2,070 increase per student for Union City - whether or not the district

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-26654593282219453752007-12-13T15:08:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:02:25.937-06:00

At last. The Republican Party is beginning to respond to Corzine’s proposed school spending program.We also hope Republicans have plans to expose the false premises on which Governor Jon Corzine has based his adequate school spending and state aid proposals.There’s a difference between property tax relief and fueling increased spending.Facts About Corzine's School Funding ProposalThe proposal

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-37970396071187767952007-12-13T14:22:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:03:02.013-06:00

Corzine has established the adequate spending per student necessary to provide a thorough and efficient education in New Jersey - $9,649 for elementary school, $10,035 for middle school and $11,289 for high school. But to Corzine not all students are created equal.The Governor has decided that students living in districts with certain demographics are entitled to spending that’s far above what he

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-6756827080026496722007-12-13T13:25:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:03:34.877-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine released his long awaited school spending and state aid plan yesterday. It contains all of the elements we have been warning our readers about for more than a year.It was clear back then that Corzine’s plan would expand the Abbott school district spending and funding formulas to more districts. That’s exactly what the Governor’s “New Formula for Success" proposes.Corzine is

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-47162402693314540892007-12-12T15:11:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:04:08.995-06:00

Governor Jon Corzine’s new school spending plan has been released - A New Formula for Success. The chart below summarizes the adequate spending per student used by the state to calculate each school district’s adequate spending budget and categorical state aid.Categorical state aid and other information for each school district may be found at the following links.K-12 State Aid Summary, Budget

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-45211220698639735552007-12-11T15:12:00.000-06:002007-12-12T08:30:41.079-06:00

Democrats are still planning to approve Governor Jon Corzine’s new school aid formula before the last day of the lame-duck legislative session, January 7.We believe the proposed school funding formula is built on a series of false premises - more money must be spent per student in districts with lower median incomes, called “at-risk”, and in districts with a high percentage of immigrants.Once

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-41282080951409283032007-12-04T09:52:00.000-06:002007-12-04T21:07:12.278-06:00

Recently we were discussing the idea of Initiative and Referendum and explained that we couldn’t think of a better way to ensure tyranny by the majority and further reduce the accountability of politicians, especially in a state such as New Jersey.Not surprisingly, Tom Byrne, former Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic Party, is now pushing the idea - Modified I&R Could Work - on the Star-Ledger

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-75847038156531407992007-12-02T13:56:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:05:28.427-06:00

My, how the New Jersey Education Law Center has changed its tune over the years. The ELC is the group responsible for the various lawsuits resulting in the so-called Abbott decisions handed down by the state’s Supreme Court.Back in 1990, the group said there should be uniform spending per student across the state with little, if any leeway for local districts to spend more. The group’s plan back

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-61154275390509832072007-12-01T21:25:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:06:01.570-06:00

"This is not about hurting someone; it's not a zero-sum game," Governor Jon Corzine said during a speech in New Brunswick about his new, secret school aid funding formula.Definition of zero-sum game: “A situation in which participant gains result only from another’s equivalent losses. The net change in total wealth among participants is zero; the wealth is just shifted from one to another.”Of

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-17782532755878752242007-12-01T11:32:00.000-06:002007-12-01T11:35:29.275-06:00

Glen Johnson, covering the 2008 presidential election for Associated Press, opens his report today with this line:“When the hostages had been released and their alleged captor arrested, a regal-looking Hillary Rodham Clinton strolled out of her Washington home, the picture of calm in the face of crisis.”Is this guy in the tank for Clinton or what?

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-7179305604598971822007-11-29T12:30:00.000-06:002007-11-29T13:23:35.356-06:00

Rampant political corruption in New Jersey is a hidden tax that each year takes a $1 billion dollars out of the wallets of New Jersey taxpayers, according to a Rutgers study produced by the Prudential Business Ethics Center.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-43840043339572583422007-11-28T10:18:00.000-06:002007-11-28T10:29:35.198-06:00

While the public’s attention is on “asset monetization”, state debt and toll hikes, Governor Jon Corzine is quietly working on a new school funding formula.Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. and Senate President Richard J. Codey said the Legislature may vote on whether to approve a new formula before the Legislature elected in the Nov. 6 election convenes on Jan. 8.This is a big deal receiving

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-86571674494702840662007-11-21T10:22:00.000-06:002007-11-21T10:24:04.183-06:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-17517641794199201642007-11-07T14:40:00.000-06:002007-11-07T14:41:17.341-06:00

Your Inner European is Irish!Sprited and boisterous!You drink everyone under the table.Who's Your Inner European?

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-18894749471355457232007-11-05T15:00:00.000-06:002007-11-07T08:28:36.509-06:00

The Coalition of the Swilling has recommendations on New Jersey’s four ballot questions that make a great deal of sense.More on the election from A Blog for All, CWA-NJ, Dino's Forum, DynamoBuzz, eCache, Fausta's Blog, Honest Abe, More Monmouth Musings, Parkway Rest Stop, Red Jersey, Right, Wing-Nut!, Sid in the City and Trochilus Tales.Here are our thoughts on New Jersey's election 2007.State

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-44027787469191606482007-10-31T12:51:00.001-05:002007-10-31T12:55:34.779-05:00

According to a Monmouth University Poll surveying physicians, one-third are so frustrated with practicing medicine in New Jersey that they've considered setting up shop elsewhere and 50 percent have seriously considered retiring early.“As a doctor, you can love medicine, but you can't make the business side of medicine work in this state."But there is one bright spot, “77 percent of psychiatrists

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-91984950963325864142007-10-07T13:44:00.000-05:002007-10-07T14:50:51.490-05:00

There’s nothing stopping states from expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). New Jersey’s S-CHIP currently costs $480 million - $312 million from federal taxpayers and $168 million from state taxpayers. If the people of New Jersey want to extend the benefit to more citizens, all the state need do is fund it to whatever level of expansion desired.So, why isn’t the state

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-72756628258831977322007-09-20T13:37:00.000-05:002007-09-20T13:39:41.202-05:00

“To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.”That measure passed the U.S. Senate 75 to 25. New Jersey Senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg both

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-82521439878694937242007-09-19T10:55:00.000-05:002007-09-19T10:57:05.129-05:00

“Too many New Jerseyans zoom from benign indifference to ballistic confrontation with no pause for rational fact-gathering, analysis and debate.”

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-83023006525957143842007-09-13T11:23:00.000-05:002007-09-13T11:29:31.443-05:00

“The problem is not the penny-ante theft perpetrated by some Democrats, but the perfectly legal theft associated with Abbott, Mt. Laurel, and the Democratic redistributionist ideology generally. In short, the Democratic Party is based upon taking things from people who earn them and giving them to people who don't, while employing vast numbers of public employees to administer the program at huge

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-38719229924112090552007-09-11T08:08:00.001-05:002007-09-11T08:10:43.958-05:00

Nicholas John was born on July 2, 1959 in Dunvant, Swansea, Wales, a city rich in history and spectacular scenery. It was also the birthplace of the poet Dylan Thomas and home to Nick, his two bothers and his parents Glyn and Enfys. To meet Nick was to understand the magic of his homeland.Nick was a passionate and warm-hearted man, with a great sense of humor and an easy smile. His sense of

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-2807244613452927292007-09-06T12:47:00.000-05:002007-09-06T13:01:10.475-05:00

So another 11 New Jersey Democrats have been arrested for corruption - this time for demanding and taking cash bribes in exchange for official favors and help in awarding government contracts. Here’s the latest crew, not unsurprisingly all representing Abbott School Districts.From Passaic County: Samuel Rivera, the mayor of Passaic; Assemblyman Rev. Alfred E. Steele, who is also a Passaic County

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-91726622417862656312007-09-04T10:56:00.000-05:002007-09-06T11:02:21.934-05:00

We see not much has changed during our hiatus. Corzine and Katz are still making news. Now with a Rocco Riccio twist:Gov. Jon Corzine gave $15,000 this year to the brother-in-law of his former girlfriend, Carla Katz, a gift that appears to contradict the governor's claims that he ended all financial entanglements with the union leader and her family before taking office.At first, the governor

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-91097327419668683332007-08-19T07:57:00.000-05:002007-08-19T10:02:28.708-05:00

Blogging will resume September 2.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-82394707873732173352007-06-30T13:57:00.000-05:002007-06-30T15:18:56.602-05:00

As Governor Jon Corzine pushes forward with monetizing New Jersey’s Turnpike and Parkway, he might look at an alternative – wringing out the waste in the state’s interstate highway system.On a per-mile basis, New Jersey takes in the most from taxpayers and spends the most on state-administered roadways as compared to the other forty-nine states. Maintenance spending per mile is 8 times the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-12050042493339976312007-06-29T11:59:00.000-05:002007-06-29T12:03:02.942-05:00

“This has been a great week for America. Our principles of equality and rule of law have been upheld, and that's worth celebrating”, writes Robb Pearson on Life & Liberty: An American Blog.Pearson is referring to yesterday’s defeat of the Senate’s immigration bill and the U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring race-based assignments to public schools unconstitutional. The opinion can best be

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-56303414165281596722007-06-28T11:26:00.000-05:002007-06-28T11:35:28.229-05:00

The comprehensive Senate immigration reform bill goes down in defeat 46-53.This quote gives the story in a nutshell:Liberals felt it did not go far enough in protecting illegal immigrants, while conservatives rejected the bill because they felt it would grant amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.The bill didn’t even receive simple majority support, let alone the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-88865013002592122142007-06-26T13:13:00.000-05:002007-06-26T14:11:14.188-05:00

On June 17, Day laborers from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut met in Morristown at a conference sponsored by the National Day Labor Organizing Network. A contingent gathered at the Morristown train station “demanding raids on illegal immigrants cease, and that any national legislation include a provision for family reunification”."We, the day laborers, are working people," Morristown

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-77287616307423504952007-06-25T11:08:00.000-05:002007-06-25T11:16:22.406-05:00

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continues to push his personal story of victimhood. Last week it was in the Star-ledger. This week in a piece by the New York Times:Mr. Menendez recently challenged a colleague on the floor of the Senate for referring to immigrants as “those people” and said he was personally insulted.“I’ve heard ‘those people’ before,” he said. “I understand what that means. It’s

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-1570073343116228402007-06-25T09:28:00.000-05:002007-06-25T09:34:18.134-05:00

“They were ladies with $200 haircuts, lunching at a waterfront cafe facing Sandy Hook. He was a man with a baked-in tan and ripped sneakers, standing on a nearby dock, talking to the New York ferry.The boat, it appeared, did not talk back. He didn't seem to mind.”The opening lines of a fictional short story? No, the lede to a “news” article in the Star-Ledger.Please. Are we to believe the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-67399464010962765152007-06-20T14:01:00.000-05:002007-06-20T15:49:20.307-05:00

In his Budget Address in February, Gov. Jon Corzine said:Healthcare costs for state workers and retirees are projected to double—from $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion in five years. Post-retirement medical costs for teachers are expected to more than double—from $750 million this year to $1.8 billion in just five years.In his April testimony before the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-38212094472800421312007-06-18T11:24:00.000-05:002007-06-18T11:28:12.544-05:00

Last week, we pointed out the funding inequities of New Jersey’s Central Regional school district for the 2005-2006 school year.A 1999 New Jersey state report on school consolidation also noted the problem.“Our particular town [Seaside Park], for example, is paying approximately $25,000 per student, whereas another town in the district was around $4,000.In a span of seven years, Seaside Park’s

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-52767539975871921622007-06-16T16:38:00.000-05:002007-06-16T21:13:56.432-05:00

Roberto is back to blogging on DynamoBuzz, so be sure to put him on your daily read list.Today, he’s writing about a couple of New Jersey issues appearing in the New York Times, including the one about the 5,500 state workers Governor Jim McGreevey laid off with buyout packages that have come back to haunt taxpayers. As have the workers who were immediately hired to take their place.The facts

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-8059665397170881952007-06-15T12:55:00.000-05:002007-06-15T13:15:04.146-05:00

Central Regional is a 7-12 school district located in central New Jersey serving the municipalities of Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Total student population is about 2,400.This is how property tax relief through school consolidation has worked out for those communities:When Central Regional was created, the towns agreed that it would be funded

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-34920710642710978432007-06-14T14:57:00.000-05:002007-06-14T15:26:22.017-05:00

The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran wrote a column yesterday about “immigration reform” and Senator Bob Menendez, a member of the gang of 12 who negotiated the failed “grand bargain” in the U.S. Senate.The column is remarkable for the level of Moran’s mendacity, beginning with this whopper. Moran writes that Menendez is “himself an immigrant from Cuba”. In fact, the only migration Menendez experienced

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-47184767128237703782007-06-13T13:14:00.000-05:002007-06-20T21:42:53.387-05:00

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-Hudson), Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) and Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) have struck a deal on a $33.5 billion state budget for 2008. The plan will boost state spending by 7.7 percent over last year with $2.4 billion in new spending.Republicans had hoped Democrats would consider their recommendations for more than $1.5 billion in spending reductions,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-41649512162317664632007-06-12T13:46:00.000-05:002007-06-12T14:12:25.621-05:00

Gov. Jon Corzine is negotiating to name Joe Doria as either education commissioner or a chief adviser on education.Corzine's plan, according to the sources, is to assign Doria immediately to shepherd one of his top priorities: revamping New Jersey's much-criticized school-funding formula.If you were looking to find someone to create an equitable state funding formula for New Jersey’s public

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-18538522648757798252007-06-11T11:44:00.000-05:002007-06-11T12:27:15.940-05:00

Tom Moran lobs a bomb:Republicans tend to get defensive when they are accused of favoring the rich over the poor. That's class warfare, we are told. And it's just not American.Which makes it difficult to be polite while discussing the latest Republican moves on the state budget. Because the GOP plan is crowded with efforts to take money from poor cities and shift it to wealthier suburbs.Look at

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-74073084439338388382007-06-07T11:44:00.000-05:002007-06-07T11:48:11.734-05:00

“Arrests double in crackdown on illegal immigrants in N.J” say the headlines in the newspapers across the Garden State. What a joke.It’s estimated the illegal alien population in New Jersey is between 480,000 to 1 million. There’s less than a 1 percent chance of an illegal alien being arrested and an infinitesimal probability of being deported under this so-called “crackdown”.Last year the U.S.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-43684802374243535412007-06-06T12:18:00.000-05:002007-06-06T12:23:48.438-05:00

According to the latest Rasmussen Poll, public support for the Senate “immigration reform“ bill continues to slide with bi-partisan opposition to the grand bargain.A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Monday and Tuesday night found that just 23% of voters now support the bill while 50% are opposed.Just 29% of Democrats support the measure while 40% are opposed. Among Republicans, support is at 21%,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-35737200816484806502007-06-04T07:30:00.000-05:002007-06-08T09:28:08.530-05:00

Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center released a report predicting all sorts of doom and gloom for New Jersey unless the state establishes a mandatory cap on carbon emissions, institutes a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants and creates a long-term emissions reduction plan that would ensure an 80 percent reduction in green house gases by 2050.Interestingly, there’s not a

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-32185212718732402142007-06-03T16:39:00.000-05:002007-06-04T07:40:56.722-05:00

NJ Exporting Welfare Recipients and Crime?Altoona Mayor Wayne Hippo is looking into filing a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey for allegedly urging welfare recipients to move to Altoona for low-income housing. He's been working with the police to investigate crime in Blair County - including drug rings and shootings - connected to former New Jersey residents who have moved to Altoona,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-39193215944683410212007-06-01T21:27:00.000-05:002007-06-27T21:28:24.972-05:00

src="http://www.blognetnews.com/new_jersey/rank.php?cid=30&img=3"type="text/javascript">

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-18118028637445780712007-06-01T15:11:00.000-05:002007-06-01T15:15:38.074-05:00

Daniel Levitin in today's Washington Post commemorates the 40th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper:Yes, it's been 40 years exactly since Sgt. Pepper, having labored the previous 20 years teaching his band to play, arranged for its debut in full psychedelic regalia.Paul McCartney may be the closest thing our generation has produced to Franz Schubert -- a master of melody, writing tunes

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-37503677561861307162007-06-01T11:01:00.000-05:002007-06-01T11:04:44.894-05:00

The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran on the worst New Jersey's political machines has to offer:The latest example is Sandra Cunningham, who is running for Senate as the choice of the infamous Hudson County Democrats.Cunningham says her main concerns are crime, jobs and housing. Sounds reasonable. So how would she address those problems?"I have not really come up with solutions," she says. "We need to come

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-12345413630175208212007-05-31T13:35:00.000-05:002007-05-31T13:59:54.943-05:00

Federal criminal investigators and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into New Jersey's pension system after a report found the state diverted billions of dollars from it for other purposes, such as state aid to Abbott school districts.Abbott districts have been spending at some of the highest levels in the State, and well beyond non-Abbott districts, with no discernable

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-58134741516007087592007-05-30T12:47:00.000-05:002007-05-30T12:52:12.285-05:00

According to the latest Rasmussen poll (conducted May 29), only 26% of American voters favor passage of the Senate immigration reform bill. Unaffiliated voters are now more opposed to the bill than either Republicans or Democrats.81% of American voters are closely following news stories about the issue.75% want the Senate immigration reform bill to increase border security measures and reduce

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-84093372801966660992007-05-25T12:57:00.000-05:002007-05-25T13:13:04.502-05:00

The former Justice Department liaison to the White House Monica Goodling was questioned before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Much of Rep. Steve Cohen, (D-TN) questioning dealt with Goodling’s education:Rep. Steve Cohen: Miss Goodling, I've read your vitae, and it says that you grew up and you mostly went -- you went to public schools. Was that K through 12?Goodling: Mm-hmm.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-62924256873620457342007-05-24T09:22:00.000-05:002007-05-24T09:25:50.445-05:00

U.S. carbon dioxide emissions dropped 1.3 percent last year even as the economy grew by 3.3 percent.The 1.3 percent drop in CO{-2} emissions marks the first time that U.S. pollution linked to global warming has declined in absolute terms since 2001 and the first time it has gone down since 1990 while the economy was thriving. Carbon dioxide emissions declined in both 2001 and 1991, in large part

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-12670083576043820782007-05-23T10:12:00.001-05:002007-05-24T12:05:47.655-05:00

According to a report in the New York Times, Jon Corzine gave Carla Katz a financial settlement that exceeded $6 million.They have repeatedly declined to disclose the total amount or specific contours of the financial agreement their lawyers negotiated upon their breakup in 2004, but lawyers familiar with the settlement and union officials who conferred with Ms. Katz during the negotiations — all

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-39631132805874390552007-05-22T15:18:00.000-05:002007-05-22T15:21:07.004-05:00

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-50404556827510892122007-05-21T10:10:00.000-05:002007-05-21T10:16:29.086-05:00

New Jersey has 43 schools on Newsweek’s list of the top five percent of U.S. public high schools. Billed as The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools, there are actually 1,253 schools included.Public schools were ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-41761926414588763012007-05-20T23:10:00.000-05:002007-05-21T00:21:43.360-05:00

It should have been obvious that Congress had little interest in actually preventing future illegal immigration or solving, to the benefit of Americans, the problems associated with 12 to 20 million currently “living in the shadows”. After reading the Immigration Reform Act of 2007 all doubt should be removed.Under the Senate’s proposed reform bill, the fine for entering or attempting to enter

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-89383134486150970622007-05-19T10:36:00.000-05:002007-05-19T10:38:12.796-05:00

Here’s a link to the controversial Senate immigration bill - Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-54545288092248923112007-05-18T12:39:00.000-05:002007-05-18T13:37:47.457-05:00

The immigration “plan hatched by a bipartisan group of senators yesterday”, according to the Star-Ledger, “inspires confusion, criticism from both sides”.Here’s the first bit of confusion the plan inspires in us - Does congress represent American citizens or illegal aliens? Based on press reports, the plan offers a menu of benefits for 12 to 20 million people living in the U.S. illegally,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-71806713941608090332007-05-17T10:52:00.000-05:002007-05-17T10:58:30.858-05:00

The U.S. government has known for 16 years the Duka family, including Fort Dix Six brothers —Dritan, Eljvir and Shain—were in the country illegally. It’s believed the family unlawfully slipped into the U.S. in 1984 by crossing from Mexico at Brownsville, Texas.In 1989, Ferik Duka filed a claim for asylum with U.S. immigration authorities, but the application for the family languished inside the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-80818910497689721722007-05-15T22:03:00.000-05:002007-05-16T13:23:59.585-05:00

Barack Obama was in New Jersey yesterday pledging to deliver universal health insurance coverage during his first term as president, if elected.The Democratic hopeful from Illinois said he would pay for his plan by saving $75 billion through emphasizing preventative health care, providing better care for the chronically ill and using new technology to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy. If needed,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-48263172259306096822007-05-14T23:47:00.000-05:002007-05-14T23:50:40.885-05:00

The Nation magazine’s Alexander Cockburn has joined the ranks of heretics. He doesn’t believe anthropogenic CO2 is primarily responsible for global warming. That’s an amazing admission from one manning “the flagship of the left’.No response is more predictable than the reflexive squawk of the greenhouse fearmongers that anyone questioning their claims is in the pay of the energy companiesHe calls

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-33445462560159529162007-05-10T20:08:00.000-05:002007-05-17T11:00:39.846-05:00

Father of Fort Dix Six Arrested on Immigration ChargesFerik Duka, the father of three men charged in the Fort Dix terror plot was arrested this week on immigration violations and is in federal custody. “It was unclear why the Duka's had not been charged with immigration violations earlier.”N.J. Terror Suspects Had Past Run-Ins With The LawDritan Duka has past arrests on charges of disorderly

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-27630033891866677982007-05-10T17:08:00.000-05:002007-05-10T17:14:53.318-05:00

Maggie Gallagher - Only In New Jersey, snips below:I'd say "only in America," but I suspect this is a story that could happen only in New Jersey.The feds are closing in on indicting your fundraising pals, one of whom even claims you arranged a special code word, "Machiavelli," signaling that they had a deal, the deal being: You pad their pockets with public funds in exchange for their donating

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-28755176476837771162007-05-08T12:19:00.000-05:002007-05-17T11:01:27.527-05:00

Six Islamic radicals planning a heavily armed attack against soldiers at Fort Dix as part of a jihad against the United States were arrested last night in New Jersey. Officials identified the men as Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka, Shain Duka, Serdar Tatar, Mohamad Shnewer and Agron Abdullahu.Five have been charged with conspiring to kill officers of the United States Government, which carries a

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-74975057438510799712007-05-08T08:29:00.000-05:002007-05-08T08:35:47.813-05:00

Click to enlarge Global Warming Facts from the Heartland.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9268475.post-25492025834022851982007-05-04T15:29:00.000-05:002007-05-07T08:51:16.610-05:00

Back in March, Bob Ingle discovered Democrats had a state-paid intern going through years of financial-disclosure forms from state legislators. Republicans suspected the effort was an election-year opposition research project being conducted at taxpayer expense. Back then, Democrats claimed the intern was looking for ways to strengthen disclosure.Yesterday, Democrats exposed the real purpose of

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com3